Former AS FAR Rabat coach jumps to Rhulani Mokwena's defence - 'Wydad Casablanca were a mess & football is a process'

Rhulani Mokwena was given the mandate to help Wydad Athletic Club get back to the top of not only Moroccan football but the continent at large.

The Botola Pro League outfit finished sixth on the table in the 2023/24 campaign, missing out on Caf competitions.

It was a massive assignment for Mokwena, who had initially not coached out of Mzansi.

In the race for the league crown, Wydad AC fell short, owing to RS Berkane's consistency.

They are currently at the summit of the table with 60 points from 25 games, five more than second-placed Far Rabat.

Wydad AC are fourth on the table with 43 points, meaning they have no chance of winning the league but can push to finish second.

Mokwena's hope of winning silverware ended on Saturday night as the Red Castle fell by a solitary goal against MA Tetouan to crash out of the Throne Cup.

It ended with the South African arguing that some players are not ready to represent the club.

Even after going for five games without a win across all competitions, former AS FAR Rabat coach Jamil Benouahi has defended him.

“You know when Rulani arrived here, Wydad were a mess because you know they finished sixth on the table last season,” he told FARPost.

“Football is a process. When Rulani arrived, they signed about 20 new players. So this is a new team that is adapting to a new style of play.

“A second thing is that here in Morocco, they closed all the big stadiums for renovations in preparation for the 2025 AFCON in December. So all the games are played in small fields, and that’s not easy for a team that plays with a lot of positions and keeps the ball.

“Last weekend, Wydad played without the ball and won 1-0. I love Rulani because he believes in his style of play, but sometimes you have to adapt to new methods. He needs to incorporate the direct football into his style to survive every challenge in a match," Benouahi concluded.

Regardless from the angle you may look at it, Mokwena has tried his best to help his side get into the top positions after finishing sixth last season.

He should now hope to get as many points as possible to finish second on the table and qualify for the Caf Champions League.

It is interesting to see whether he will be in charge of the team for the 2025 expanded Fifa Club World Cup.